Headlines

  • Astros To Sign Jake Odorizzi
  • Brewers To Sign Jackie Bradley Jr.
  • Surgery Recommended For Framber Valdez
  • No Planned Future Discussion On Expanded Playoffs, Universal DH In 2021
  • Out Of Options 2021
  • Royals, Hunter Dozier Agree To Four-Year Extension
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Cardinals, Yadier Molina Discussing Extension

By Steve Adams | March 11, 2020 at 5:26pm CDT

The Cardinals are working to extend the contract of longtime catcher Yadier Molina for at least one more year and “probably” two more seasons, reports The Athletic’s Mark Saxon (subscription required).

Molina, 37, has been the Cardinals’ primary catcher since 2005 and, over the course of his career, has shouldered the largest workload of any backstop in the game. His durability is the stuff of legend, as evidenced by 15 straight seasons of at least 107 games caught and an average of 126.4 games caught per season during that remarkable stretch. From 2009-13, Molina caught at least 131 games per year. As recently as 2016, he started a ridiculous 142 games behind the plate.

Currently in the final season of a three-year, $60MM extension that pays him an even $20MM per year, it’s unlikely that Molina would command such a lofty salary under the terms of a new contract. The 2019 season, after all, was among the least-productive years he’s put together since breaking out as a big league regular (despite a league-wide uptick in offensive output). In 452 plate appearances, he hit .270/.312/.399. Molina’s low strikeout rate and excellent bat-to-ball skills have long helped him post quality batting averages, but last year’s 5.1 percent walk rate was the lowest of his career. His power dipped noticeably from its 2017-18 levels as well. Molina’s once-elite caught-stealing rate and framing numbers have also tailed off over the past couple of seasons, checking in closer to league average.

Molina, of course, is still a plenty useful backstop — one whose all-around value to the organization would surely be labeled as invaluable by the Cardinals themselves. Hammering out a specific price point could be difficult, though. Molina’s annual salary was already a high-water mark for catchers, and there’s no recent precedent for a catcher inking an extension at this point in his career. Then again, there’s no real precedent for a catcher with Molina’s track record in today’s game at all (as alluded to previously). By the time most catchers reach their age-38 seasons — Molina will turn 38 in July — most have either been downgraded to backup status or have simply retired.

The level at which Molina deems an offer to be suitable, then, is anyone’s guess. His career path in some ways mirrors that of longtime teammate Adam Wainwright, who looked to be running on fumes at the end of the 2018 season. Wainwright agreed to a one-year deal with a minimal $2MM base salary in 2019 and maxed out his incentives package with a bounceback 2019 effort that he parlayed into a $5MM deal for the 2020 season — but that comparison only goes so far. The two play vastly different positions, Molina is talking extension as opposed to a free-agent deal, and he’s still been healthy and reasonably productive on the field.

Saxon reported late last month that Molina would be willing to accept a reduced role in the second season of a new deal (2022), but it seems for the time being he’s still focused on functioning as a workhorse behind the plate. If that’s the case, it’s hard to imagine him settling for anything like the Wainwright deal. Free-agent catcher Robinson Chirinos, who shares an agent (Melvin Roman) with Molina, just signed a one-year deal with a $6.5MM guarantee for his age-36 season in Texas, but he doesn’t have Molina’s track record and isn’t ingrained into the very fabric of Rangers history in the same was as Molina, who has reached icon status in St. Louis.

The Cardinals have $101MM on the 2020 books and $115MM worth of luxury-tax obligations, so it’s certainly not a matter of whether they can fit a new Molina deal into the budget. Rather, the question becomes how the two sides account for a potentially waning level of production for Molina while still respecting the level of value he’s provided over the past decade and a half as he carved out a likely road to the Hall of Fame.

Share 0 Retweet 20 Send via email0

St. Louis Cardinals Yadier Molina

MLBTR Chat Transcript
Main
Brett Cecil Leaves Game With Hamstring Injury
100 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. davidk1979

    12 months ago

    Nostalgia is a hell of a drug

    4 Like
    Reply
    • chitown311

      12 months ago

      So is the Hall of Fame

      3 Like
      Reply
      • Maurice Lock

        12 months ago

        When fans need to discuss/argue/defend a player as a Hall of Famer, it’s the first sign he’s not a HOF player. Cut the damn cord with Molina. He’s not good anymore.

        3 Like
        Reply
        • chitown311

          12 months ago

          He’s a first ballot HOFer. Nothing to argue

          9 Like
          Reply
        • GCarbs

          12 months ago

          He’s probably the greatest defensive catcher of all time. He’s 12th in fWAR amongst catchers. No he was never a great hitter but neither was Pudge Rodriguez.

          Like
          Reply
        • Maurice Lock

          12 months ago

          Pudge Rodriguez was never a great hitter? What planet are you from? And Molina is not the greatest defensive catcher of all time. Not sure how anyone can make that claim?

          3 Like
          Reply
        • GCarbs

          12 months ago

          Pudge had a wRC+ of 104. Yadi is at 99. And Yadi has the most defensive value per Fangraphs. He’s behind only Pudge and Bench in gold gloves. There are multiple metrics that support him being in the conversation.

          1 Like
          Reply
        • Maurice Lock

          12 months ago

          Look at Pudge from 1994-2004, his prime, and count up his .300 seasons, SS awards, OPS, OPS+ and whatever other goofy SABR stats you can find. Then tell me he wasn’t a good hitter. And I don’t count gold gloves as anything. They’re subjective and ridiculous.

          1 Like
          Reply
        • purplewidow

          12 months ago

          What pipe are you hitting? crack? Stats don’t lie.
          Ivan had almost 3000 hits and over 300 homers.

          Rodriguez career:
          WAR
          68.7

          AB
          9592

          H
          2844

          HR
          311

          BA
          .296

          R
          1354

          RBI
          1332

          SB
          127

          OBP
          .334

          SLG
          .464

          OPS
          .798

          OPS+
          106

          Molina career:

          WAR
          40.2

          AB
          6970

          H
          1963

          HR
          156

          BA
          .282

          R
          701

          RBI
          916

          SB
          66

          OBP
          .333

          SLG
          .405

          OPS
          .738

          OPS+
          98

          2 Like
          Reply
        • chitown311

          12 months ago

          Just go to bed Maurice Lock. Adults are talking

          1 Like
          Reply
        • Maurice Lock

          12 months ago

          Chitown, “adults?” You? Adults appreciate facts.

          Like
          Reply
        • Payne Train

          12 months ago

          Troll

          2 Like
          Reply
        • Maurice Lock

          12 months ago

          Dee-bag

          1 Like
          Reply
        • GCarbs

          12 months ago

          You think 106 OPS+ is great? Reminder, I said Pudge wasn’t a great hitter. For a catcher? Sure, a great hitting catcher. But Yadi’s league average hitting should then be considered as good enough for the Hall, which was the Crux of my initial comment.

          Like
          Reply
        • 123Redsox

          12 months ago

          First ballot? That’s crazy. He dominated his generation with solid longevity. But he was never berra. Bench, pudge, piazza

          1 Like
          Reply
        • wordonthestreet

          12 months ago

          Maurice you make zero sense. He is not going into the HOF because people (fans) are discussing it? What are you smoking

          Like
          Reply
        • wordonthestreet

          12 months ago

          Hey Chitown makes an intelligent comment

          Like
          Reply
        • cards81

          12 months ago

          Maurice usually doesn’t make sense because he is a troll who only want attention on cardinals post

          Like
          Reply
        • Payne Train

          12 months ago

          That’s not nice

          Like
          Reply
        • cards1985

          12 months ago

          Pudge took steroids. Ask Cansaco.

          1 Like
          Reply
  2. Losbravos69

    12 months ago

    The legend himself. Hope they do it. Love watching dude play

    1 Like
    Reply
    • Maurice Lock

      12 months ago

      I love watching him run to first base on groundballs.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • cards81

        12 months ago

        I love reading your jealousy of the cardinals…do you wait around all day just to spew hate on cardinals post lol yea one of the all time great catchers who has done more than you will ever do in life…yea let’s talk trash about him lmao

        2 Like
        Reply
      • Payne Train

        12 months ago

        lol troll –

        1 Like
        Reply
  3. fourth_dimension

    12 months ago

    This should wait until after 2020. Let him resign one year at a time like Waino. The kicker here is if they do an extension now is his new salary cannot be less than 80% of his currently salary per the current CBA, so you are talking 16M per. That is ridiculous even for Molina at 38, and then 39, and 40. I understand he is an “icon”, but performance does and should matter.

    2 Like
    Reply
    • Teufelshunde4

      12 months ago

      Provide link to CBA with this info, I have heard this before but want to see document.

      Like
      Reply
      • Cat Mando

        12 months ago

        mlbplayers.com/cba

        Click the link at the bottom for the PDF. I believe salaries are article VI but I haven’t read it in a long time. The 20% is pursuant to several things. You may have to jump around the CBA article to verify all.

        1 Like
        Reply
        • mizzourah87

          12 months ago

          Cat Mando, looks like this is in regards to tenders, not new contracts. So pretty much just pre-arb eligible players that don’t have the ability to negotiate their contracts.

          1 Like
          Reply
    • JFactor

      12 months ago

      Couldn’t they agree in principle to a new deal, but not sign it after this season?

      Like
      Reply
  4. DisplacedSTLfan

    12 months ago

    Sign him to play for a few more, then manage, then work front office.

    Like
    Reply
    • Cuddy Fox

      12 months ago

      A lot of the other players went to work in the team in some sort.. Look at the broadcast team. Ricky Horton was a pitcher for the Cardinals and Jimmy Edmonds was their GG Centerfielder. They also have room for Willie McGee, Ozzie Smith, Cris Carpenter, Jose Oquendo, in roles of the team. Others are there too.

      Like
      Reply
  5. D0m

    12 months ago

    HOF no doubt

    Like
    Reply
    • Ironman_4life

      12 months ago

      If it was 25 years ago id say probably not. By todays standards hes in. I think hes right there personally.

      Like
      Reply
    • themed

      12 months ago

      He’s a first ballot no doubt Hall of Famer!

      Like
      Reply
      • Maurice Lock

        12 months ago

        You’re constantly trying to convince yourself of that, aren’t you themed? You know how truly great it takes a player to be a first ballot HOF? Obviously not.

        3 Like
        Reply
        • Payne Train

          12 months ago

          Troll

          1 Like
          Reply
  6. whyhayzee

    12 months ago

    His value goes beyond statistics. Nice to see him stay with the same team.

    2 Like
    Reply
  7. saluelthpops

    12 months ago

    I’m a Cardinal’s fan. I’m a Yadi fan. I’m not a fan of the recent extensions the team has agreed to. Their track record is not good. He’s under contract for this season. What’s the rush here?

    1 Like
    Reply
    • solaris602

      12 months ago

      Can’t agree enough. You’re talking about a 2-year extension for a catcher entering his age 38 season. Granted Molina is arguably the Tom Brady of catchers, but I think it’s incumbent on Molina to seriously consider retiring after the season and leave the game on his terms. An extension for him is just not a good business move for STL unless it’s a 1-year deal of $5M or less to back up his successor.

      Like
      Reply
  8. CJ81

    12 months ago

    I’m a Cards fan and a Yadi fan, but I hope they don’t overpay here. He should be paid like an above average backup catcher with Knizer starting in 2021 and Herrera possibly starting in 2022 or 2023.

    1 Like
    Reply
  9. bobtillman

    12 months ago

    Guy’s gonna be playing when Mike Trout’s son makes his MLB debut……

    Like
    Reply
  10. dipsanddingers

    12 months ago

    Just retire already

    3 Like
    Reply
    • jkinser20

      12 months ago

      No.

      Like
      Reply
  11. uncle mike

    12 months ago

    Flaherty will not be happy with the Cardinals!!!!The Mets by passed the rules to reward their player!! The Cardinals didn’t.

    Like
    Reply
  12. louman49

    12 months ago

    Yadi is a Cardinal great just like Stan / Lou/Gibby/and of course The Red head and many more who wore the birds on the bat shirt.

    Like
    Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      12 months ago

      Tom Brunansky?

      Like
      Reply
  13. rip mac miller

    12 months ago

    2 yr 18 mil? How off am I

    1 Like
    Reply
    • Maurice Lock

      12 months ago

      Hopefully you’re off 2 years and 18M, and I don’t mean 4/36

      1 Like
      Reply
  14. themed

    12 months ago

    Caught stealing drop off is a joke. He’s as good as he ever was. Still one of the games best. Most guys steal off the pitcher. It’s not his fault if the runners get good jumps off the pitchers that can’t seem to hold them close.

    Like
    Reply
    • Maurice Lock

      12 months ago

      Let me see if I understand the liberal Democrat double standard here. When he was throwing guys out trying to steal bases, he was considered the best. When the drop comes, it’s now the pitcher’s fault for the stolen bases? Got it, Chuck Schiff.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • themed

        12 months ago

        People still don’t run on Molina son. But if a pitcher gets lackadaisical and the runner gets a big jump how in the world is that Molina’s fault. Some people just have no clue!

        Like
        Reply
        • Maurice Lock

          12 months ago

          Nobody runs in baseball. It’s barely part of the game any longer…son. Either way, you can’t have it both ways on Molina or any catcher.

          1 Like
          Reply
        • themed

          12 months ago

          Hey lock you must be a cub fan. Go enjoy your 3rd place team.

          Like
          Reply
      • Commonsenseslapsyou

        12 months ago

        And A moron pretends it’s political

        1 Like
        Reply
  15. uncle mike

    12 months ago

    Rip…..that should be right on the money!! (No pun intended!! ). Cardinals set the precedence with .217 Carpenter. Yadi should get it if Carp got it for a very poor season.

    Like
    Reply
    • stan lee the manly

      12 months ago

      What in the world are you talking about? Carp got his extension off of a phenomenal 2018 where he was a serious MVP candidate into the final month of the season. Not defending the extension, but to say his 2018 was very poor is pretty outrageous.

      2 Like
      Reply
  16. brandon218048

    12 months ago

    So many people are so quick to hate on him, look what he’s done. He even said he doesn’t care if he starts or not. True legend

    Like
    Reply
  17. andrewgauldin

    12 months ago

    Given that there’s not much depth behind Yadi, I’d say go for it if he’s going to split time with Knizner or whomever. But if I was Mozeliak, I’d wait to see what the Phillies do with Realmuto. Cards could be players for him. However, probably unrealistic given the Cards spending habits with FA’s, and a Realmuto signing would leave Yadi with about 20% of the catching duties, as opposed to a Yadi-Knizner tandem.

    Like
    Reply
    • cards81

      12 months ago

      Not much depth behind Yadi? They have knizner and Herrera behind him in the minors and Wieters as the back up in the majors…I would say that Is plenty

      Like
      Reply
      • Maurice Lock

        12 months ago

        Their catcher depth is in Arizona.

        Like
        Reply
    • stan lee the manly

      12 months ago

      The Cardinals have two legitimate catching prospects, one of which is ML ready now and another who will be in as little as a year from now if he keeps his progression arc moving. Both are top 100 prospects (depending on the source with Knizner, but still). How much catching depth could you possibly want? Lol

      1 Like
      Reply
      • andrewgauldin

        12 months ago

        If Knizner was truly ready right now then I don’t think they would have signed Weiters. Knizner didn’t necessarily perform well last year. He’s going to spend the majority of the year In AAA barring injury to Yadi or Wieters. As for the other prospect, under MLB.Com, he’s not listed in the top 100, nor is he on the top 10 catchers list, his ETA isn’t until 2022 either

        Like
        Reply
        • cards81

          12 months ago

          I don’t think you understand how that works…it would be horrible for knizner to sit on the bench in the Majors…he needs to be playing in a daily basis…yes his defense could use a little work but he has proved to be able to hit…either way it would be no good for him to ride the pine, hence why you sign a veteran to play back up for Yadi…if Yadi goes down then yes Knizner comes up…yes Herrera is only 19 but many think he is truly going to be the heir to Yadi…” The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked Knizner as the Cardinals’ No. 5 prospect last month, he wrote, “Knizner makes a ton of contact, spraying the ball all over the field and, if he were a better catcher, he’d be on the overall top 100.” The Athletic literally just wrote an article about what they are going to do with Knizner…” Knizner realizes his ultimate major league dreams might play out in another organization. The Cardinals’ No. 4 prospect, by the way, is Ivan Herrera, who is six years younger than Knizner and might, in fact, end up as Molina’s heir apparent.”

          Like
          Reply
        • cards81

          12 months ago

          Not to mention it was noted that knizners defense has improved and they believe he is MLB ready

          Like
          Reply
        • andrewgauldin

          12 months ago

          And as I said, If Knizner was truly ready, then he’d be earning it, and so far he has not earned it, hence why they signed Wieters. If Knizner was truly ready, Knizner would be splitting time 40-60 or 50-50 with Yadi, which is plenty of playing time. But he’s not, it’s going to be Weiters. If they anticipated Knizner to start the year in the MLB, Wieters wouldn’t have been signed, a guy like Butera or Sucre would have been signed.

          Like
          Reply
        • cards81

          12 months ago

          He is ready…but you don’t let a young catcher sit the bench…he needs to play…they signed Wieters because Yadi will be playing the majority of the time…you’re not going to tell Yadi to sit the bench for Knizner…now with this new contract in which Yadi has said he will be willing to dial back his playing time maybe then you bring up Knizner…hence why they only signed one year of Wieters…after this year you might see knizner up…but till then Yadi is in control and knizner needs to be playing on a daily basis to stay sharp…plus this whole thing was about the cardinals depth in which you said they had none…they have plenty

          Like
          Reply
        • andrewgauldin

          12 months ago

          Knizner could have played 40-50% of the games this year if the Cards truly felt he was ready. His offensive numbers in AAA say he is ready, but signing Wieters signifies that the cards want him in AAA. The cards don’t think he’s ready. And no I don’t think the cards have a lot of depth, or I guess solid depth. Yadi probably isn’t a top 10 catcher anymore, Wieters hasn’t had a good season in quite a while, and Knizner is unproven. What’s behind that? A 19 year old who isn’t expected to make his debut until 2022.

          Like
          Reply
        • cards81

          12 months ago

          So you complain the cardinals don’t have depth but yet you criticize the signing of Wieters In order to have depth? Wieters has been an excellent back up and Yadi s value to the team is indefensible… he was a big reason the cardinals made it to the NLCS…the cardinals aren’t going to sit Yadi who is getting paid 20 mil lol…the cardinals have Yadi, Wieters, and Knizner ready to go…please tell me what other team has that much considerable depth at the catchers position? Plus they have Herrera right behind them…who might not be ready but is considered highly as the heir apparent to Molina…how is that not depth at the catchers position…plus they brought over a catcher with the libetore trade from the rays…this is from The Athletic about the cardinals farm…
          “ 9. St. Louis Cardinals
          The Cardinals just keep doing it, even with a complete washout draft in 2017 and misses on their first picks in 2015 and 2016. Their evaluation of Dylan Carlson appears to have been well ahead of everyone else’s, they keep finding and/or creating catchers, and they’ve been shrewd about adding prospects in selected trades to balance out some of the other prospects they’ve traded away. They’re light in the middle infield, but that catching strength, even after trading away Carson Kelly, is a Very Good”…sorry but I don’t get where you see they don’t have depth

          Like
          Reply
        • stan lee the manly

          12 months ago

          Andrew, you clearly don’t know much about the Cardinals farm system if you think they lack catching depth. Not even knowing who Ivan Herrera is was a big clue. According to Keith Law, he’s ranked number 97 overall, ahead of Knizner, at 19. He is also predicted to reach the majors well before 2022. Keith Law is by far the best at dealing with prospects, so i would suggest brushing up on his rankings.

          As a second note, using the example of Knizner not being ready because they have Yadier Molina is a ridiculous example. He’s a legendary player in St. Louis and showed last year that he is capable of playing 80% of the games at an acceptable level, of course he’s going to play. He’s earned the right to have a large say in that decision.

          Like
          Reply
  18. bigbadjohnny

    12 months ago

    What he needs is more tattoos !

    Like
    Reply
    • Maurice Lock

      12 months ago

      Can you imagine the year 2060 when Molina is wearing his sheeple, red Jacket on Opening Day what those tattoos will look like on a 77 year old neck?

      2 Like
      Reply
      • Payne Train

        12 months ago

        Still trolling –

        5 Like
        Reply
        • Maurice Lock

          12 months ago

          Still being a dee-bag.

          1 Like
          Reply
        • Payne Train

          12 months ago

          :(

          1 Like
          Reply
      • Iknowmorebaseball

        12 months ago

        Those thug tattoos are excepted in St Louis because that’s a thug City. I think one year was voted the worst and most dangerous city to live in and that was probably the year Molina got his tats

        Like
        Reply
  19. TrumpCard

    12 months ago

    Ivan Rodriquez did roids. Tony Pena, Gary Carter (had a great arm), Benito Santiago were right there with Molina defensively

    1 Like
    Reply
  20. brucenewton

    12 months ago

    Said 2020 was his last year back in ‘18.

    Like
    Reply
  21. gbs42

    12 months ago

    One year, $10M. Mutual option for the same terms for another year.

    Like
    Reply
  22. Briffle

    12 months ago

    HOFer, yes, but he’s borderline first ballot. Never led the league in any significant offensive category. His offensive peak is only three seasons. He’s got more seasons with an OPS+ below league average than above.

    Great defender obviously, but is his defense transcending? Not sure about that or if it was good enough to make up for his paltry (by HOF standards) offensive numbers.

    When we think of the all-time greatest defenders, I’m not sure Yadier comes to mind. He might not even be the best defensive catcher in the last 30 years, that might be Pudge.

    Like
    Reply
    • bighiggy

      12 months ago

      You are comparing his offensive numbers to every player on the league. Compare them to other catchers. Dude squates down for nearly 2 hours a night then has to hit. His offensive numbers compared to other catchers is usually pretty good. Does he lead all catchers in hitting, no, but for a catcher, his numbers are above average. For a long time. His first couple seasons were atrocious, but over the last 10 years his hitting has always been good to great for a catcher.

      Like
      Reply
  23. JFactor

    12 months ago

    I’d venture it’ll be a 2/$30M extension, if they can get around the CBA language for it

    21 – $16M
    22 – $13M
    23 – mutual option $10M – $1Mbuyout

    Btw, I wouldn’t be happy with this, I’m just trying to guess what they’ll do.

    Like
    Reply
    • Commonsenseslapsyou

      12 months ago

      About 98% sure that language only Applies to Pre free agency guys, specifically arbitration+ how they are renewed 1-3

      We’re talking free agent years. Russ Martin will not be getting 16M this offseason when he signs but he’s a free agent after a massive deal. It’s the exact same scenario for Molina

      Like
      Reply
  24. Iknowmorebaseball

    12 months ago

    Sign him through 2022 and have him around to be a live statue outside of the stadium, just don’t put him behind the plate because he is league avg. This year he may be below league avg.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • cards81

      12 months ago

      When you’re 38 and playing professionally then let me know…till then I wouldn’t be talking trash to one of the all time greats…know nothing

      Like
      Reply
    • Cuddy Fox

      12 months ago

      Lets see, a player that is on the verge of 2000 hits, 400 doubles and is and when he sign a new deal, 1000 RBIs, and you want him as a statue outside of their stadium, what is wrong with that picture?

      Like
      Reply
  25. Troy mcclure

    12 months ago

    Imagine signing that digital check 39 ok let’s give you 8 mill see how it goes

    Like
    Reply
  26. Troy mcclure

    12 months ago

    No disrespect ment dudes one of the best

    Like
    Reply
  27. WereAllJustGuestsHere

    12 months ago

    If the idea is to re-sign him as a backup for $2-mil per year, absolutely.

    Like
    Reply
  28. justme

    12 months ago

    Does he belong in the hof I’d say yes first ballot probably not…but his defense combined with being a solid hitter most of his career is enough to get him in eventually…sign him two more years if it’s not a crazy salary guys like him you want them to retire with the team if all possible..if that means extending little longer then might be advisable it’s worth it and he is still a good defender so risk not overwhelming.

    Like
    Reply
  29. ivpaul

    12 months ago

    An extension for Molina is extremely unlikely because this article fails to mention that the current CBA limits how much less than Molina’s current salary the Cardinals can offer. They will have much more flexibility to offer an incentive-laden contract with a lower base if they wait until after the season when he is a free agent
    In the meantime, articles like this are merely an attempt by Molina’s agent to bully the Cardinals into doing something stupid.

    Like
    Reply
    • Jeff Todd

      12 months ago

      I am not sure what you’re referring to in the CBA that would have such an effect.

      Like
      Reply
      • JFactor

        12 months ago

        There seems to be some confusion over this, would you mind sharing how that applies (the 80%)?

        Like
        Reply
  30. ivpaul

    12 months ago

    The club’s offer must be at least the MLB minimum salary, and, in most cases, must be at least 80% of the player’s previous year’s salary and at least 70% of the player’s salary from two seasons back.

    Like
    Reply
    • Jeff Todd

      12 months ago

      Are you thinking of arbitration rules?

      Like
      Reply
      • bighiggy

        12 months ago

        Thank you jeff, I think some people are really confused.

        Like
        Reply
  31. ivpaul

    12 months ago

    No, this has nothing to do with arbitration. Molina’s salary for 2020 is $20 million. That means the lowest amount the Cardinals can offer him in an extension of his current contract for 2021 is 80% of that $20 million, or $16 million. The Cardinals would be foolish to guarantee Molina $16 million at his age. A smarter move would be to offer him a guaranteed base of perhaps $8 million with incentive bonuses for games played and plate appearance thresholds. To do that, though, they have to wait until after the World Series when Molina is a free agent. Molina’s agent is trying to pressure the Cardinals into making a bad deal now, though.

    Like
    Reply
    • JFactor

      12 months ago

      I just read the CBA. You are thinking about option years, and if a team wishes to replace a players option year with a new contract, it can’t be less than 80%. Otherwise, you are thinking about pre arbitration guys.

      There is nothing in the CBA about signing a player to a new contract after his deal expires to a lesser annual amount

      Like
      Reply
  32. brucenewton

    12 months ago

    Peds are stockpiled, needs to keep going.

    Like
    Reply
  33. skip tracey

    12 months ago

    Extend this man. Let him play until he’s unable then put him immediately on the big league coaching staff. If anyone has earned it, it’s this man!

    Like
    Reply
    • Iknowmorebaseball

      12 months ago

      Skip if he becomes a coach then he will need to remove his neck tatoos.

      Like
      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Astros To Sign Jake Odorizzi

    Brewers To Sign Jackie Bradley Jr.

    Surgery Recommended For Framber Valdez

    No Planned Future Discussion On Expanded Playoffs, Universal DH In 2021

    Out Of Options 2021

    Royals, Hunter Dozier Agree To Four-Year Extension

    Giants, Scott Kazmir Agree To Minor League Deal

    Kelvin Herrera Announces Retirement

    Braves Extend Brian Snitker

    Yankees Sign Justin Wilson

    Recent

    NL Injury Notes: Soroka, Mikolas, Kelly, Martinez

    Top Remaining MLB Free Agents

    Pirates Acquire Duane Underwood, Designate Carson Fulmer

    AL West Notes: Seager, Bregman, Lowrie, Murphy

    COVID Notes: 3/7/21

    Nationals Release Jeremy Jeffress

    Offseason In Review: Pittsburgh Pirates

    Astros’ Forrest Whitley Suffering From Right UCL Sprain

    Quick Hits: Cishek, Souza, Herrera

    COVID Notes: 3/6/21

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Kris Bryant Rumors
    • Jackie Bradley Jr. Rumors
    • Jake Odorizzi Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version